There are many theatre groups in Japan, mainly in large cities, but few own theatres. BIRD Theatre Company started its activities by borrowing a disused elementary school and kindergarten from Tottori City and renovating them ourselves. With contemporary theatre performances at the heart of our activities, we aim to deliver the richness and potential of theatre, which is something we know as theatre practitioners, to the community.

The town of Shikano in Tottori City, where the theatre is located, developed around Shikano Castle, built at the beginning of the 16th century. It’s a typical rural area in Japan facing ageing and depopulation, with a population of 3,700. While many theatres are located in large cities, BIRD Theatre, surrounded by abundant nature and a historic townscape, is cherished by the locals as a handmade theatre in a small town.

Our activities primarily focus on contemporary theatre performances. We stage works by Chekhov, Dürrenmatt, Ibsen, Yukio Mishima, and Kobo Abe, connecting them to the challenges of modern society. We have also been engaged in performances for children and theatre productions involving people with disabilities. Additionally, we present theatre performances at schools and do theatre workshops for schools and companies, both on-site and off-site.

Every September, we hold the BIRD Theatre Festival. It was first held in 2008, and the 17th edition will take place in 2024. We have invited works from eleven countries: South Korea, China, Thailand, Taiwan, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Italy, Romania, and Finland. BIRD Theatre Company has also performed in South Korea, China, and France. Furthermore, we actively collaborate with overseas artists and accept interns from theatre universities worldwide.